Polish senators flying high
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
26.03.2015 11:25
Members of Poland’s upper parliamentary chamber have taken to the skies, with each senator spending an average of PLN 32,000 on flights so far this parliamentary term.
Сенат ПольщіPhoto: Michał Józefaciuk/senat.gov.pl
The total expenditure on senators’ plane travel to foreign destinations this term – which kicked off in late 2011 – has amassed to PLN 3.2 million on flights for 100 senators.
The numbers mark a stark contrast with the lower parliamentary house, however, which has spent PLN 5.09 million on plane travel for all 460 MPs, an average of around PLN 11,000 per parliamentarian.
Senators have defended themselves by saying that they have the same number of meetings which need to be attended as their colleagues from the lower house.
However, one political scientist, Dr Rafał Chwedoruk, told the Rzeczpospolita daily that “if there was one Polish institution where Byzantine practices are still going strong, it’s in the Senate”. (jb)